Review: Non-Alcoholic Spirits of Fluere, Complete Lineup
Fluere is a non-alcoholic spirits brand owned since 2023 by Lucas Bols, known for its extensive liqueur lineup. With a selection of five N/A “spirits” under its command, Fluere covers a vast swatch of the alcohol world with its spiritless takes on gin, rum, mezcal, and more. We tasted the entire lineup. Thoughts — quite…
Review: Russell’s Reserve Bourbon 13 Years Old (Updated 2026)
Wild Turkey’s Russell’s Reserve brand tends to fly under the radar a bit, but ignoring this latest release would be a mistake. It might be the best bottling ever to come out under the label. You’re getting a 13 year old cask-strength bourbon, available for a limited time. Here’s a bit of the story behind…
Review: Blue Note Wheated Bourbon
Memphis-based Blue Note recently added a small batch wheated bourbon to their growing lineup of contract-distilled whiskeys, all of which age in a uniquely humid Tennessee climate near the intersection of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers. The mashbill of 70% corn, 21% soft winter wheat, and 9% malted barley will be familiar to fans of…
Review: TailGate Brewery Core Lineup
Nashville-based TailGate Brewery operates a whopping nine taprooms across Tennessee, but its core beer lineup includes only three offerings (plus a cider). Naturally you’ll find a steady stream of limited editions hitting the market, but if you’re new to the brand, as we are, this is the trio you’re going to encounter. Thoughts follow. TailGate…
Review: Oaklore Story Series 2026 – Old Fashioned and Port Cask Finished Bourbon
A bourbon’s story doesn’t necessarily end when it leaves its original barrel. Increasingly, distillers are turning to secondary maturation to add another chapter, one that can reshape the whiskey beneath it. That idea sits at the heart of Oaklore’s Story Series. Built around the belief that every barrel has a story worth telling, Oaklore Distilling…
Review: TX Whiskey Experimental Series Straight Rye Whiskey Full Proof
Out of Fort Worth comes another experimental release from TX Whiskey, the 16th total in their series, and the second so far this year. We previously reviewed Experimental Series #15, which was a rye/bourbon blend with the latter portion finished in Vino de Naranja barrels. The latest release is a Texas straight rye whiskey, aged…
Review: Heaven Hill Deatsville Bourbon 13 Years Old
Heaven Hill‘s Deatsville campus is on the verge of being decommissioned, so if you want the chance to taste whiskey from these rickhouses — and only from these rickhouses — you better act fast. This 13 year old offering is drawn from “one of the most distinctive aging sites in the distillery’s 90-year history.” It’s…
Review: Wines of Truth and Valor, 2023 Vintage
Truth and Valor is a Paso Robles-based producer of particularly patriotic wines, all reds. We last encountered the operation with its 2021 vintage and now we’re back with three offerings from 2023. Let’s salute the winemakers and dig in. 2023 Truth and Valor Pinot Noir Paso Robles – Surprisingly bright and fruity, with a bold…